Method and apparatus for providing a combination differential driver

Abstract

In one embodiment, an integrated device is disclosed. For example, in one embodiment of the present invention, a device comprises a logic control, and a combination differential driver coupled to the logic control, wherein the logic control receives a control signal for configuring the combination differential driver as a Low Voltage Differential Signaling (LVDS) driver or as a Transition Minimized Differential Signaling (TMDS) driver.

1. A device, comprising:
 a logic control; 
 a combination differential driver coupled to the logic control; and 
 a configurable bias circuit coupled to the combination differential driver, wherein the configurable bias circuit provides one or more bias signals to the combination differential driver, 
 wherein the combination differential driver comprises a first biasing module, and 
 wherein the logic control receives a control signal and provides an output signal to the first biasing module for configuring the combination differential driver as a Low Voltage Differential Signaling (LVDS) driver or as a Transition Minimized Differential Signaling (TMDS) driver. 
 
   
   
     2. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the logic control comprises a multiplexer. 
   
   
     3. The device of  claim 2 , wherein the multiplexer receives an input/output (I/O) power supply signal as a first input signal and a bias signal as a second input signal, and wherein the control signal is a select signal for the multiplexer. 
   
   
     4. The device of  claim 3 , wherein selecting the input/output (I/O) power supply signal as the output signal of the multiplexer causes the combination differential driver to be configured as the TMDS driver. 
   
   
     5. The device of  claim 3 , wherein selecting the bias signal as the output signal of the multiplexer causes the combination differential driver to be configured as the LVDS driver. 
   
   
     6. The device of  claim 5 , wherein the bias signal is a P bias  signal for controlling a bias transistor of the biasing module in the combination differential driver. 
   
   
     7. The device of  claim 5 , wherein the control signal is equivalent to the input/output (I/O) power supply signal, and wherein the control signal is for controlling a passgate in the combination differential driver. 
   
   
     8. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the configurable bias circuit is configured to provide two bias signals to the combination differential driver if the combination differential driver is configured as the LVDS driver. 
   
   
     9. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the configurable bias circuit is configured to provide one bias signal to the combination differential driver if the combination differential driver is configured as the TMDS driver. 
   
   
     10. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more bias signals are generated in accordance with a programmable resistor. 
   
   
     11. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the configurable bias circuit is further configured to provide a configurable resistance termination to the combination differential driver. 
   
   
     12. The device of  claim 11 , wherein the configurable resistance termination is configured as a termination for the LVDS driver or as a termination for the TMDS driver. 
   
   
     13. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the combination differential driver further comprises:
 a first transistor coupled to the first biasing module; 
 a second transistor coupled to the first biasing module; 
 a third transistor coupled to the first transistor; 
 a fourth transistor coupled to the second transistor; 
 a passgate transistor coupled to the first transistor, the second transistor, the third transistor, and the fourth transistor; and 
 a second biasing module, coupled to the third transistor and the fourth transistor. 
 
   
   
     14. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the configurable bias circuit further comprises:
 a dummy driver for receiving the one or more bias signals. 
 
   
   
     15. The device of  claim 14 , wherein the configurable bias circuit further comprises:
 a voltage locker module coupled to the dummy driver for generating one of the one or more bias signals. 
 
   
   
     16. The device of  claim 14 , wherein the configurable bias circuit further comprises:
 a current locker module coupled to the dummy driver for generating one of the one or more bias signals. 
 
   
   
     17. A device, comprising:
 a logic control; 
 a combination differential driver coupled to the logic control; 
 a configurable bias circuit coupled to the combination differential driver, wherein the configurable bias circuit provides one or more bias signals to the combination differential driver, wherein the configurable bias circuit comprises a dummy driver for receiving the one or more bias signals; and 
 wherein the combination differential driver comprises a first biasing module, and 
 wherein the logic control receives a control signal and provides an output signal to the first biasing module for configuring the combination differential driver as a Low Voltage Differential Signaling (LVDS) driver or as a Transition Minimized Differential Signaling (TMDS) driver. 
 
   
   
     18. The device of  claim 17 , wherein the configurable bias circuit further comprises:
 a voltage locker module coupled to the dummy driver for generating one of the one or more bias signals. 
 
   
   
     19. The device of  claim 17 , wherein the configurable bias circuit further comprises:
 a current locker module coupled to the dummy driver for generating one of the one or more bias signals.